Auger scraper and ejector system

ABSTRACT

A scraper bowl has a cutting edge disposed at a forward open end thereof and a normally upright auger rotatably mounted in the bowl for elevating and distributing material therein. The upper end of the auger is pivotally mounted on the bowl and its lower end is pivotally connected to an ejector for forward movement therewith during unloading of the material.

I Umted States Patent 1 [11] 3,857,190

Gee et al. Dec. 31, 1974 AUGER SCRAPER AND EJECTOR SYSTEM 2,533,132 :8/1930 Fenske 37/4 ,1 I9 [751 Inventors: James Washmgton? Rbert 11,594 10i197i Blackman 37/1 Stedman, Chillicothei both Of 3,73s,02s 6/l973 Reinhardt 37/4 [73] Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, lll.

Primary ExaminerRobert E. Bagwill [221 Flledl 09L 1, 1973 Assistant Examiner-E. 1-1. Eickholt [211 App] 402 345 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Phillips, Moore,

Weissendberger, Lempio & Strabala [52] US. Cl 37/8, 198/213, 2l4/83.32 51 1111.01 E02f 3/62 [57] ABSTFACT [58 Field of Search 37/4, 8, 126 AE, 129, 1, A Scraper bowl has a clmmg edge dlsposeq at a 7 214/8332; 198/213 ward open end thereof and a normally upright auger rotatably mounted in the bowl for elevating and dis- [56] References Cited tributing material therein. The upper end of the auger UNITED STATES PATENTS lS plvotally mounted on the bowl and its lower end is pivotally connected to an ejector for forward move- 4 1;; ment therewith during unloading of the material. 3:43l:659 3/1969 Eiger.................: 37/4 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED UEEB 1 I974 sum 1 or 5 AUGER SCRAPER AND EJECTOR SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a self-loading scraper comprising an auger for receiving, elevating and distributing material in the bowl thereof. The state-of-the-art is exemplified by US. Pat. Nos. 415,317; 1,295,173; 3,431,659; 3,443,326; 3,533,173; 3,533,174; 3,611,594; and 3,738,028. Although such art broadly discloses an ejector in combination with an auger, there are no teachings therein disclosing linkage means for automatically pivoting the auger to an upward position upon actuation of the ejector to remove material from the bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The self-loading auger scraper of this invention comprises a normally generally vertically disposed auger rotatably mounted in a scraper bowl for elevating and distributing material therein. An upper end of the auger is pivotally mounted on the bowl whereas a lower end thereof, normally positioned adjacent to a cutting edge disposed at a forward end of the bowl, is pivotally interconnected to the lower end of an ejector by suitable linkage means. In response to forward movement of the ejector, the lower end of the auger will thus pivot upwardly into a non-interfering position with respect to the ejector and discharged material.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an auger rotatably supported in a scraper bowl and strategically located therein to effectively load the bowl, yet automatically movable out of interference with the unloading operation.

Another object is the provision of an auger mounting readily adapted for use with existing scraper bowls without substantial redesign thereof.

A further object is the supporting of the auger at both ends to reduce the wear and stresses to which the auger, its bearings, and associated supporting and driving means are subjected during the loading operation.

A still further object of this invention is to utilize the full capacity of the bowl by mounting the upper end of the auger at points on the sidewalls elevated above the ends of the bowl.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a self-loading auger scraper embodying this invention, with portions of the scraper bowl broken-away to expose internal details thereof and wherein the scraper is being towed by a tractor in its transport position of operation;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the scraper bowl of FIG. 1, shown in the unloading position of operation;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken in the direction of arrows III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view disclosing the mounting and disposition 'of a lower end of the auger in the scraper bowl; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the scraper bowl.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, a self-loading wheel tractor scraper 10 has an auger assembly 11 rotatably mounted in a scraper bowl 12 thereof. The bowl comprises a pair of laterally spaced and generally vertically disposed sidewalls l3 and 14 and a floor 15 extending generally horizontally between and secured to the lower edges of the sidewalls. The bowl is adapted to be raised or lowered in a conventional manner by means of one or more suitably arranged hydraulic cylinders (not shown).

A downwardly sloping cutting edge 16 extends laterally across a forward edge of the floor whereby, upon lowering of the bowl, the cutting edge will engage the ground. An apron l7, normally closing the forward open end of the bowl, is pivotally mounted at 18 on the sidewalls. The apron is adapted to be opened to its FIG. 2 position by hydraulic cylinder means, a rod of which is shown at 19 in FIG. 1.

An ejector 20 extends between sidewalls l3 and 14 and has its lower scraping edge positioned closely adjacent to floor 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the ejector is normally disposed at the rearward end of the scraper bowl during loading. The ejector is adapted to be moved forwardly to its FIG. 2 unloading position by actuating means, such as a hydraulic cylinder 21, to eject the load over cutting edge 16 and outwardly of the bowl in the customary manner.

Auger assembly 11 comprises a generally vertically disposed auger 22 having its lower end journalled for rotation in a bearing assembly 23 (FIGS. 3 and 4), secured to the mid-portion of a cross-plate 24 normally positioned adjacent to cutting edge 16. The augers upper end is similarly journalled in a bearing assembly 25 (FIG. 3) secured to the mid-portion ofa cross-beam 26 disposed between sidewalls I3 and 14. The lateral ends of the cross-beam are pivotally mounted on the respective sidewalls by pivot pins 27.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of axially spaced sprockets 28 and 29 are fixedly secured to the upper end of the auger and are disposed within the hollow cross-beam 26. I-Iydraulically driven motors 30 and 31 are mounted on the cross-beam to have their drive output sprockets 32 and 33 drivingly connected to the respective auger sprockets by endless chains 34 and 35. Linkage means, comprising a pair of links 36 and 37 respectively extending along sidewalls 13 and 14, pivotally interconnect the lower end of the ejector with cross-plate 24.

In operation, the scraper bowl may be lowered with apron l7 opened to engage cutting edge 16 with the ground during forward movement of the tractor scraper to load material into the bowl. During such loading, the ejector is maintained in its retracted position at the rearward end of the scraper bowl. The auger is simultaneously rotated by motors 30 and 31 to raise and distribute material throughout the bowl.

The mounting of the upper end of the auger at the apex of sidewall extensions 38 and 39 of the bowl results in an elevation of the material to the highest point centrally of the bowl. In cooperation with the triangular sidewall extensions, the load capacity of the bowl is utilized to its maximum since the loaded material will naturally flow from such high point outwardly at its natural angle of repose towards the front, rear and sides of the bowl.

After the bowl is filled, rotation of the auger is stopped and the apron is closed. The bowl is then raised to its FIG. 1 transport position to elevate the cutting edge away from the ground. The vehicle is then driven to a dump site whereat the apron is opened and the ejector is moved forwardly to its FIG. 2 position to discharge the load. In certain conventional auger-scraper constructions the ejector is limited in its forward travel by interference with the lower end of the auger and, therefore, a portion of the load builds-up around the auger and in back of the cutting edge.

In accordance with this invention, forward movement of the ejector will automatically cause links 36 and 37 to move cross-plate 24 forwardly and upwardly. Thus, the lower end of the auger is likewise pivoted upwardly, about pivot pins 27, to position the auger in a non-interfering position. In this manner, the ejector may be moved to a forward position closely adjacent to cutting edge 16 to thereby substantially completely empty the bowl upon each unloading operation. After the load is dumped, the ejector is retracted to automatically return the auger to its FIG. 1 position.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-loading auger scraper comprising a bowl having a pair of laterally spaced and vertically disposed sidewalls, a generally horizontally disposed floor connected between said sidewalls and a cutting edge secured to a forward end of said floor,

a generally vertically disposed ejector, extending between said sidewalls, normally positioned at a rearward end of said bowl,

actuating means for selectively moving said ejector from the rearward end towards an open, forward end of said bowl,

an auger rotatably mounted in said bowl and having its upper end pivotally mounted thereon for swinging movements from a normal generally vertically disposed position, whereat a lower end of said auger is positioned adjacent to said cutting edge,

means for rotating said auger, and

linkage means pivotally interconnected between said ejector and said auger for automatically pivoting said auger to move the lower end thereof upwardly and forwardly towards the forward end of said bowl.

2. The auger scraper of claim I further comprising an apron pivotally mounted on said bowl to normally close the open, forward end thereof.

3. The auger scraper of claim I wherein said auger is generally positioned intermediate the forward and rearward ends of said bowl and said sidewalls.

4. The auger scraper of claim 1 wherein the upper end of said auger is rotatably mounted in a bearing assembly attached to a cross-beam extending between said sidewalls, said beam pivotally mounted on said sidewalls.

5. The auger scraper of claim 1 wherein the lower end of said auger is rotatably mounted in a bearing assembly attached on a member extending laterally between said sidewalls, said linkage means connected to said member.

6. The auger scraper of claim 1 wherein said linkage means comprises a pair of links each disposed adjacent to a respective one of said sidewalls.

7. The auger scraper of claim 1 wherein each of said sidewalls has a triangularly shaped extension secured thereon with apexes of said extensions being generally aligned laterally with the upper end of said auger.

8. In combination with a scraper bowl having laterally spaced and generally vertically disposed extending sidewalls, a generally horizontally disposed floor connected between said sidewalls, a forwardly-directed cutting edge and a generally vertically disposed ejector extending laterally between said sidewalls and movable forwardly across said floor toward said cutting edge for ejecting a load outwardly of an open forward end of said bowl, an auger arrangement comprising:

an elongated auger,

upper mounting means including a bearing journalling an upper end of said auger to support said upper end generally centrally of the upper edges of said sidewalls,

said upper mounting means being supported for tilting said auger from a generally vertically disposed loading position to an unloading position,

lower mounting means including a bearing journalling a lower end of said auger supporting said lower end adjacent said floor and said cutting edge, and means for moving said lower mounting means to said unloading position remote from said cutting edge responsive to forward movement of said ejector.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said upper mounting means is positioned above the level of upper ends of said bowl,

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein upper edges of said sidewalls extend slantingly downwardly from an apex centrally thereof oppositely outwardly toward the ends of said bowl.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the angle at which said upper edges of said sidewalls slantingly extend approximating the angle of natural repose of loose material filling said bowl.

12. The combination of claim 8 wherein said moving means includes at least one link pivotally interconnected between said ejector and said lower mounting 

1. A self-loading auger scraper comprising a bowl having a pair of laterally spaced and vertically disposed sidewalls, a generally horizontally disposed floor connected between said sidewalls and a cutting edge secured to a forward end of said floor, a generally vertically disposed ejector, extending between said sidewalls, normally positioned at a rearward end of said bowl, actuating means for selectively moving said ejector from the rearward end towards an open, forward end of said bowl, an auger rotatably mounted in said bowl and having its upper end pivotally mounted thereon for swinging movements from a normal generally vertically disposed position, whereat a lower end of said auger is positioned adjacent to said cutting edge, means for rotating said auger, and linkage means pivotally interconnected between said ejector and said auger for automatically pivoting said auger to move the lower end thereof upwardly and forwardly towards the forward end of said bowl.
 2. The auger scraper of claim 1 further comprising an apron pivotally mounted on said bowl to normally close the open, forward end thereof.
 3. The auger scraper of claim 1 wherein said auger is generally positioned intermediate the forward and rearward ends of said bowl and said sidewalls.
 4. The auger scraper of claim 1 wherein the upper end of said auger is rotatably mounted in a bearing assembly attached to a cross-beam extending between said sidewalls, said beam pivotally mounted on said sidewalls.
 5. The auger scraper of claim 1 wherein the lower end of said auger is rotatably mounted in a bearing assembly attached on a member extending laterally between said sidewalls, said linkage means connected to said member.
 6. The auger scraper of claim 1 wherein said linkage means comprises a pair of links each disposed adjacent to a respective one of said sidewalls.
 7. The auger scraper of claim 1 wherein each of said sidewalls has a triangularly shaped extension secured thereon with apexes of said extensions being generally aligned laterally with the upper end of said auger.
 8. In combination with a scraper bowl having laterally spaced and generally vertically disposed extending sidewalls, a generally horizontally disposed floor connected between said sidewalls, a forwardly-directed cutting edge and a generally vertically disposed ejector extending laterally between said sidewalls and movable forwardly across said floor toward said cutting edge for ejecting a load outwardly of an open forward end of said bowl, an auger arrangement comprising: an elongated auger, upper mounting means including a bearing journalling an upper end of said auger to support said upper end generally centrally of the upper edges of said sidewalls, said upper mounting means being supported for tilting said auger from a generally vertically disposed loading position to an unloading position, lower mounting means including a bearing journalling a lower end of said auger supporting said lower end adjacent said floor and said cutting edge, and means for moving said lower mounting means to said unloading position remote from said cutting edge responsive to forward movement of said ejector.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said upper mounting means is positioned above the level of upper ends of said bowl.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein upper edges of said sidewalls extend slantingly downwardly from an apeX centrally thereof oppositely outwardly toward the ends of said bowl.
 11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the angle at which said upper edges of said sidewalls slantingly extend approximating the angle of natural repose of loose material filling said bowl.
 12. The combination of claim 8 wherein said moving means includes at least one link pivotally interconnected between said ejector and said lower mounting means. 